LAPT7 Peru: Perez out in 5th, Exterkotter in 4th; big lead for Backmann

As Level 30 (50,000/100,000/10,000) began Jerson Backmann of Mexico had built his stack up over 7 million, having about half the chips in play and three times as many as his nearest competitor.

Upstairs in the Atlantic City Casino, the LAPT Peru Grand Final continues

A few hands went by, with both Luis Perez and Marcos Exterkotter having all-in shoves go uncalled. Then came a hand that saw Backmann raise from the button, a short-stacked Oscar Alache reraise all in from the small blind for 645,000 total, and Backmann call.

It was A♥4♥ for Alache and 3♠3♣ for Backmann, and the 6♦2♠4♦ flop hit Alache's hand while also giving Backmann some outs to catch up. But the turn was the 7♦ and river the Q♣, and after having some trouble dealing with the big-stacked neighbor on his right today, Alache managed to grab some chips back from Backmann.

From there the pattern was either Backmann would open with a raise and win, or someone else would open-shove all in and win. Exterkotter won once, Alache twice, and Perez one time, while Backmann picked up the pots in between.

Then a hand arose that saw Campodonico raise the minimum to 200,000 from the small blind, Perez push for 710,000 from the big blind, and Campodonico call.

Perez was ahead but in a precarious spot with A♣9♥ versus Campodonico's K♠J♦, and still had the edge after the [10d]5♠6♠ flop. But the J♥ turn gave Campodonico the lead, and after the 6♦ river they were down to four.

Luis Perez - 5th place

They crossed the midway point of the level, and returned to the same pattern with Exterkotter, then Alache, then Alache again pushing all in and getting no action. Then Campodonico started to do some standard raising, too, having climbed up out of the danger zone.

Then came a hand that saw the Exterkotter open all-in for 1,255,000 from the button and Alache calling him from the big blind.

Exterkotter had [10d]9♠ and needed improvement against Alache's A♠[10c]. The 4♥2♠6♠ flop and 5♦ turn didn't help the Brazilian, but did offer a chance for a split pot. Fifth street then brought the Q♠, and Extertotter was done in fourth.

Marcos Exterkotter - 4th place

They're now taking a short break a few minutes shy of the conclusion of Level 30. Here are the stacks at present: